Trace-carrier



lUNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. ZANDER, OF STANTON, NEBRASKA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,838, dated November 12, 1895.

Application filed August 24, 1895- To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERICK W. ZANDER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Stanton, in the county of Stanton and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rFracc-Carriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the traces can be readily caught up by the cockeyes to prevent the ends from hanging down or dragging when the traces are notin use; and it consists in the construction and combination of the parts, whereby I provide a cage which is attached to a suitable frame or plate, the cage having hooks formed integral therewith, which are bent toward each other,and the frame or plate being provided with a iiat spring carrying a cross-bar, which is adapted to engage the ends of the hooks and project beyond the same to form guides, which will lead the cockeyes to the hooks, the projecting ends of the cross-bar also providing means for depressing the spring' when it is desired to disengage the cockeyes from the hooks, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved trace-carrier. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views, Fig. 3 being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and Eig. 4 is a View showing the application of the invention.

A designates the base-plate or frame, which is preferably struck up from a single piece of sheet metal to present three side bars a, ai, and o2 for the attachment of the harness-straps. The side of the base plate or frame opposite the bar co is provided with a loop as, to which the crupper-strap is secured, and to a bar extending across this loop is riveted or otherwise attached a flat spring B, the upper free end of which carries a cross-bar b.

C designates the cage, which is struck up Serial No. 560,451. (No model.)

of sheet 4metal to provide a top or covering plate c, from which depend inclined members c', the ends of said members being bent outwardly and secured to the bed plate or frame A, so as to support the plate c a suitable distance above the same. The ends of the plate chave members C/ formed integral therewith, which are bent to provide hooks, the ends of which lie under the top or covering plate c, and parallel therewith, and with said hooks the cockeyes of the traces are adapted to engage.

It will be noted that the cross-bar b, which is carried by the spring B, normally engages with the underside of the hooks C', and that the ends of said cross-bar project beyond the hooks to form a guide for depressing the spring in attaching the cockeyes. The projecting ends also provide convenient means for depressing the spring manually when it is desired to release the cockeyes from the hooks. It will also be noted that the crossbar, bearing against the under side of the hooks, will guide the cockeyes into the hooks after they are let into the cage.

By locating the spring as shown there is no possibility of excessively depressing the same, as its downward movement is limited when the device is attached to the harness.

The device not only forms a cheap and efficient trace-carrier, but the frame A also serves to connect the back-band strap, crupperstrap, andthe straps of the breeching thereto.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide a trace-carrier consisting of a base-plate struck up to provide vertical side pieces and having springs attached thereto, which impinge against hooks also carried by the base-plate, the hooks being centrally located between the side pieces.

I am also aware that a trace-carrier has been made with a base-plate having a pair of hooks, the ends of which project toward each other, and a single spring which engages the hooks; but I do not claim a trace-carrier so constructed.

My invention is designed to provide a tracecarrier in which the parts are so constructed that the spring and hooks will lie within the cage and be fully protected by the top or covering plate thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what IOO ing provided with hooks C which project toward each other under the top or covering plate C, the cross-bar of the spring bearing against the underside of the hooks, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. A trace-carrier for harness, comprising a fiat metal frame A provided at one end with an opening' or loop, a fiat spring B attached to the frame A and carrying at its free end a cross-bar b, a cage @having depending meinbers which are attached to the frame A and provided with a lat portion providing a top or covering plate c having members C' formed into hooks, the terminal portion of the hooks lying beneath the plate c and extending parallel therewith and the ends of the cross-bar D extending outwardly beyond the hooks, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. ZANDER, Witnesses:

II. F. STEPHENS, AUG. Lomme. 

